Top 10 Greatest Football Duo’s in the Game

10. Vidic & Ferdinand

Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand will always receive the blessings of Manchester United fans because it was these two who were like the great wall. Even the likes of Lionel Messi and van Persie found it difficult to find the back of the net when these two were marshalling the defensive area of their pitch. While Vidic was a master tackler and a great tactician, Rio Ferdinand was great at intercepting passes. Together with a great goalkeeper such as Edwin Van der Saar, they managed to ensure that opposition cannot find a space to play the ball. They come at the 10th spot in our countdown.

Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique

9. Carles Puyol & Gerard Pique

If Vidic and Ferdinand were like a wall for Manchester United, Puyol and Gerard were like mountains! Puyol was a master tactician and knew when and where the ball would pop up for him to clear, while Pique was an aerial master, who scored countless headers and has also created several chances through his ‘long-ball’ ability (one that he learned from Scholes in his Man Utd days). The duo would marshal the entire area of defence together with support from Busquets and Alba and would dramatically lower the morale of opposition attackers, simply because they couldn’t get a chance to even shoot. They come at the 9th spot in our countdown.

Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrad

8. Fernando Torres & Steven Gerrad

One of the greatest ever mysteries was the downfall of Fernando Torres when he transferred from Liverpool to Chelsea, and the answer to it was pretty simple- there was no Steven Gerrard in Chelsea (Frank has a different style of game). It is only when the two combined that they could be seen as a major threat to opposition players. These two were well oiled machines who knew what each other were up to. Gerrad was obviously, the master playmaker for Liverpool who used to find Torres somehow, and he was literally ‘fed’ by Gerrard such easy goal scoring chances which were hard to miss, even by a teenage footballer.

Alessandro Nesta and Fabio Cannavaro

7. Alessandro Nesta & Fabio Cannavaro

Alessandro Nesta and Fabio Cannavaro will always remain the two best players of Italian defence. This is the best Italian defensive duo till date and will always retain a special place among the hearts of Italian fans. While we all know Nesta was one of the best defenders of AC Milan and Italy as well, but his partnership with Cannavaro really anchored the defence. Whenever there was any player trying to pose a threat to the Italian goalpost, Cannavaro and Nesta were always present- as if they’re saying “thou shall not pass!”. The duo comes at the 7th spot in our countdown.

Xabi Alonso and Sami Khedira

6. Xabi Alonso & Sami Khedira

These two players have defined the ‘2’ in the 4-2-3-1 formation for the world. While Khedira is a great winner of the ball, and has the ability to assert a physical force in the midfield and defensive areas, Xabi Alonso is a great passer of the ball and helps in bringing the ball from the defence to the offence is less than a couple of pass. The only reason Mourinho was able to succeed at Real Madrid is because of these two workhouse midfielders, because they used to dictate the game’s pace and the kind of football that’s going on in the game.

Thierry Henry and Denis Bergkamp

5. Thierry Henry & Denis Bergkamp

The Arsenal duo was the core reason why the team had an ‘invincible’ season, because most of the time- the ball would be “owned” by these two players only. We all know what a great passer Bergkamp was and what kind of finisher Henry had been, and when the duo combined- they striked fear at the hearts of their opposing defenders. You couldn’t predict if either of Henry or Bergkamp was the playmaker in the match, because each would create chance for the other to score and the duo made the beautiful game seem much prettier. They come at the 5th spot in our countdown.

Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo

4. Wayne Rooney & Cristiano Ronaldo

Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo partnership will be severely missed in the Premier League and you’d pay whatever it takes to watch the duo come up with brilliant football. When these two played, it was almost that they communicated telepathically, and each knew exactly what the other was up to. Watching a counter attack that had Wayne Rooney and Ronaldo was simply breath taking and the duo literally destroyed oppositions thanks to their impeccable passing, their sheer brilliance and their clinical finishing. The duo led the team to Champion’s league glory, Premier League titles and a World Club Cup as well, making them come at the 4th spot in our countdown.

Rivaldo and Ronaldo

3. Rivaldo & Ronaldo

The two master players of Brazil had led the nation to win the World Cup in 2002 and were a formiddable attacking force when the duo played together. Rivaldo, as we all know, was a great playmaker and created chances out of nowhere, and even at extreme situations. Ronaldo on the other hand, was a clinical finisher, and the combination of these two proved too hot to handle for other nations. Rivaldo scored important goals as well, against England and Belgium that booked Brazil a place for the finals. They come at the 3rd spot in our countdown.

Lionel Messi and Xavi

2. Lionel Messi & Xavi

While one is a master finisher of the ball, another is the master passer. When these two combined, Barcelona became a much stronger team and Pep Guardiola literally cashed upon the combined talents of these two. Often, it would be these two players who dictate the pace, and the result of the match. Xavi’s vision is almost exceptional and you hardly see a player nowadays who has such talent like Lionel Messi. The duo has led the team to win Champion’s League, the Liga BBVA title and the World Club cup as well, making them come second in our countdown.

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Dennis Law and The Duo

George Best and Sir Bobby Charlton

Dennis Law and George Best and Sir Bobby Charlton

1. George Best and Sir Bobby Charlton

And I present to you the winner of our countdown. There was no way I would miss two of the Holy trinity of world football and Manchester United. These three players (Dennis Law and the duo) were a part of the formidable attacking force that Manchester United had become, always finding each other at scoring positions. It was almost as if each of the three will somehow be involved in a goal that’s scored by United, no matter who scores the goal. They don’t make players like these three anymore and it’s a pity there aren’t enough footage of the trio in action. With honourable mentions to Martin Tyler and Andy Gray Yup, these two commentators made any match interesting with their humours and comments, along with fun facts and football history trivia. But it’s just an honorable mention to these guys.